Pennsylvania Capitol Police
 | This article may rely excessively on sources too closely associated with the subject, potentially preventing the article from being verifiable and neutral. (May 2022) |
| Pennsylvania State Capitol Police | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1895 |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction | United States |
| Legal jurisdiction | Capitol Complex and state office buildings in Dauphin County, PA, and Scranton, Pennsylvania |
| Specialist jurisdiction |
|
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | 70E Capitol East Wing, Harrisburg, PA 17125 |
| Sworn members | 85[1] |
| Agency executive |
|
| Facilities | |
| Stations | 1 |
| Patrol cars | 22 |
| Dogs | 5 |
The Pennsylvania Capitol Police is an internationally and domestically accredited law enforcement agency with full arrest powers that investigates all reported crimes within its jurisdiction of state-owned buildings and properties in Harrisburg and Scranton. The force maintains a 24-hour a day/7 days a week presence in Harrisburg, where they also provide assistance to the city of Harrisburg Police Department and other surrounding local law enforcement agencies.
The Pennsylvania State Capitol Police Force was established in 1895 under Governor Daniel Hartman Hastings, the state's 21st Governor. The enactment authorized the Capitol Police as the first Pennsylvania police agency under Commonwealth jurisdiction and the second oldest state police organization in the United States, after the Texas Rangers.[2]
Accreditation
[edit]The Capitol Police was initially accredited on July 9, 2005 through the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission (PLEAC) and Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association. In 2024, the Pennsylvania Capitol Police received their sixth re-accreditation. In addition to being re-accredited, the Pennsylvania Capitol Police was awarded the Premier Agency Status by the PA Chiefs of Police.
The Capitol Police received International Accreditation on July 28, 2007, through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). In 2024, the Capitol Police was awarded their sixth award for being re-accredited. CALEA recognized the Pennsylvania Capitol Police for their professional excellence and demonstrating a commitment to being a highly trained police department.
Equipment
[edit]-
The current patrol vehicle used by the PA State Capitol Police. -
Vehicle Mounted License Plate Reader (LPR) System currently used by the PA State Capitol Police. -
PA Capitol Police Bike Patrol -
PA Capitol Police K9 Unit -
PA Capitol Police Fleet -
-
Special Response Team (S.R.T.) equipment shown during National Night Out
The CPD has an all-Ford patrol fleet that consists of Police Interceptor Sedans and Police Interceptor Utilitys. The agency's vehicles are both marked and unmarked.
Though not often displayed in pictures, the CPD also uniquely uses the IWI X95 Israeli bullpup assault rifle as part of their armament, and were previously the first law enforcement agency in the United States to adopt the TAVOR SAR in 2013 before upgrading to the IWI Tavor X95 in July 2017. [3]
The Department has four K-9 Explosive Units trained in the detection of explosives. All delivery vehicles entering the building of the Capital Complex are searched. Also, the Capitol Police Department has a K-9 Narcotics/Patrol unit trained in the detection of drugs on as well as for search and rescue operations.
Units
[edit]- Patrol
- K-9's (Explosive and Narcotics Detection)
- Bike Patrol
- Criminal Investigations
- Criminal Intelligence
- Mobile Field Force
- Special Response Team (S.R.T)
- Active Shooter and Crime Prevention Training
- Risk and Vulnerability Assessments
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ "Pennsylvania Capitol Police Swear In Three New Officers". archive.ph. July 17, 2024. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
- ^ "PA Capitol Police".
- ^ "The Pennsylvania State Capitol Police Upgrade to IWI US TAVOR® X95™". July 25, 2017.
External links
[edit]| International | |
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| National | |
